Chapter Text
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was eerily quiet for the next week and more. The atmosphere grim and not as active as before. People stayed quiet, talking when necessary only. Even if some didn't know the Young Cult Leader, they still walked on eggshells.
The Cult was still on high alert, the Demon Supremes more on edge, even more so when the rest of them returned two days after the event. The news itself that Mugeuk was critically injured was hard to believe, especially since they can't see him for themselves, they can only depend on what information the All Knowing Hall let's out. They unfortunately didn't have any special privileges to know more. Though there wasn't much, only that he was still unconscious till who knows how long. No one dared ask the Cult Leader, that was if you were lucky to have an audience with him since he was determined to not leave his son's side.
As for the First Young Lord, he was too irritable to approach, he was respectful but clearly not in the mood to discuss what happened to his brother, using his duties as distraction. The moment he would be done he would head to the Heavenly Demon's Pavillion to check on his brother, his father often letting him sleep in one of the rooms there.
The cult was adamant on keeping Mugeuk's condition as secretive as possible. Only the most trusted could enter and leave the gates. They barely let a whisper leave. If information got out, the All Knowing Hall and Geom Mugeuk's Hidden Moon quickly buried that information and stopped it from leaking to the murim. It was already known that he was injured, but no one knew of his state. His friends in the Orthodox Alliance and Evil Alliance were especially worried and annoyed at the little information they have.
Like that, eleven days had passed after the initial five spent at the infirmary before being moved to Geom Woojin's room. His state was worrisome. He was healed of all major injuries and he no longer faced regular pain nor seizures, yet he was still in a coma like state. The Demon Doctor checked every possible reason, but in the end he found nothing that explains why he was still in unconscious.
----
"Ugh... hahhh.." A soft groan left Mugeuk as he attempted to wiggle in bed, his body stiff from lack of movement. It felt like he had been there for decades. His memory felt hazy, last thing he remembered clearly is escaping from the inside of Hwa Mugi's mind alongside the other trapped souls. After that it was all a blur, he remembers having to put up his defences in a hurry on instinct, mostly thanks to the Heavenly Demon Defense Art that deployed in its own. But then he remembered feeling pain only. His eyes finally opened, confused at his location before recognising it as his father's due to having woken up like this once before. His eyes roamed the room and found his father in a lotus position, circulating his energy.
"Do you trust me this much father? I feel honoured." The Young Cult Leader decided to joke around like he usually would as he sat up.
What Mugeuk didn't expect was his father's eyes to snap open, wide in surprise as he turned to face his son. Geom Woojin's eyes wavered as he saw his son awake and joking around, a sight he wished would see every night. He sprang to his feet and took large, hurried steps to reach his boy and hold him. Mugeuk tensed in surprise when arms wrapped around him, holding him in a tight, unbreakable hold. He was astonished, not even sure where to place his arms. He doesn't believe he's ever seen this side of his father.
That lasted for a while, Mugeuk taking advantage of the situation to hug his father back for the first time since he could remember. He didn't even make a joke or cheeky remark, not even a playful look on his face. He only leaned into those unmoving arms, a peaceful expression on his usual unserious one. He hugged back, allowing himself this one pleasure.
His father finally spoke, but kept his arms embracing his son whose head was tucked under Woojin's chin.
"How do you feel?" His father's voice was unnaturally gentle and soft.
"I feel fine... Is my inner energy sealed?" Mugeuk replied, finally realising the lack of access to his inner qi after doing a once over his body. The only one who had enough power to seal his inner energy was Geom Woojin who, unless it was for a damn good reason, wouldn't do that.
"Yes, to help you heal." His father's reply was blunt, but kept that atypical softness. What's more he found his father's hand reach to stroke his unbound hair. Mugeuk wouldn't even be able to name a moment before this where his father was this affectionate with him. It truly felt good, an unexplainable type of good. He never wanted to leave this embrace.
"Was I in that bad of a state?"
"Very. You don't remember?"
"Not much. I do remember feeling pain."
A short silence fell over them, Woojin never letting go of his grip on his youngest son.
"Can you release the seal now?"
"No, wait until the Demon Doctor comes."
"Will you release it then?"
"No."
Mugeuk let out a soft huff like laughter, sinking more into Woojin's arms. He felt slightly comforted that his father was caring for him so much. He can't even imagine how bad of a state he must've been in for his father to change his demeanour so drastically, not that he minded, he had discovered anew that the Heavenly Cult Leader had a surprisingly warm and comfortable hug.
"I apologise for worrying you, father." Mugeuk whispered softly, his eyes closed peacefully as he was held like he was a newborn baby.
"Back to spouting nonsense?" Geom Woojin deflected gruffly. Had it not been for the hand running through Mugeuk's hair, he'd think his father returned to his stoicism.
"If your going to apologise, might as well do it to the whole cult not just me."
Geom Mugeuk laughed again, not noticing the softness and relief in Geom Woojin's eyes, finally able to hear his son's laughter and playfulness, though his relief was given away by how his arms tightened to bring his son impossibly closer.
----
The Demon Doctor came and went, glad to see the Young Cult Leader finally awake. Him being a martial artist meant that Mugeuk healed slightly faster. His internal bleeding, qi veins and meridians all healed during his coma. His bones mostly were healed just not fully so he still had to be careful with that. Mugeuk being himself of course joked about everything, his injuries, how he must've worried others, how much care he was being shown, but he never forgot to thank the physician earnestly for helping him in his critical state. However the Demon Doctor didn't stay long, knowing that it wasn't his place to at the current moment.
Geom Muyang had hurriedly entered his father's bedroom the moment he was allowed to after the health inspection was complete and the doctor exited the room. Much like The Demon Doctor, Muyang was informed of his brother's consciousness thanks to Hwi who was ordered by the Cult Leader to call for them respectively.
"Ah! Hyung! You came for me too!" Mugeuk beamed playfully, sitting on the edge of the bed with his father sat on a nearby table drinking tea. He had stopped embracing his youngest when the doctor came, Mugeuk was slightly disappointed but he knew his father kept his composer around others. also to give space to make sure his son is still healthy.
Though today, Mugeuk was embraced by another usually stoic and nonchalant man, his brother. He can name a few times he was hugged by Muyang, but until a over a year or so ago, it was all fake and ingenuine. Geom Mugeuk was again surprised, but quickly returned the gesture, allowing his head to rest on his brother's firm yet warm chest.
"Is this what it took for me to receive an embrace from from father and you Hyung?" Mugeuk meant for that to be a playful jab, but his father and brother didn't see it like that. He couldn't see it as his face was buried in his brother's chest, but the other two had frowned slightly as their memories verified the validity of this statement.
"How are you feeling?" Geom Muyang decided not to comment on Mugeuk's banter, just enjoying having his baby brother alive, conscious and most importantly in his arms. If he could, Muyang would keep Mugeuk's inner energy sealed and never let him out of his sight. As the older brother held the youngest, the eldest allowed his own qi to flow though his brother, checking on the state of his internal body.
"I'm fine, I tell you! Hyung, help me convince father to release my internal energy!" Mugeuk whined in his usual, playful demeanour but not once attempting to leave his older brother's hold on himself.
"No. No way. It would be better if he never releases it even." Muyang replied firmly, having less pride then Woojin to admit it aloud. A look of appreciation from Woojin was sent to his eldest son for expressing his own belief.
"What?! No you can't do that! I'm the Young Cult Leader! The Young Cult Leader you hear!" Mugeuk whined brattily, dramatic as always which only brought a small smile to his father and brother who couldn't seem to want him to leave their sight.
"Don't tell me you wish to seize my title like this hyung!"
In an instant, Mugeuk felt a cold energy directed at himself from his older brother and he looked up in surprise.
"Stop making that joke. Or else I'll make sure father never takes of that seal." Muyang snapped sharply, making his point clear. His younger brother had made this joke multiple times before. Muyang usually ignored him or gave a teasing, cryptic smirk. Though after the events with the Celestial Killer Star, he had truly nearly lost Mugeuk and would've had to take that title. He didn't want to entertain those jokes any longer, no matter what reason. On the other hand, it truly hit just how dangerous the position is, but Muyang knew there is no one more suitable for the Young Cult Leader title then his baby brother Geom Mugeuk.
"Jeez... both of you are impossible.." Mugeuk grumbled and went silent, slumping into his brother's protective arms that only seemed to tighten around him, determined to never let go. The two brother's however didn't expect their father to leave his seat and join them, spreading his arms to wrap them around both his sons.
Muyang and Mugeuk couldn't possibly know what their father was thinking, nor did the say anything as they felt him pulling them closer. However Geom Woojin, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Cult Leader, had realised one important thing in those two weeks Mugeuk was unconscious and in severe pain at the beginning. He recognised that if anything happened to his sons, he might as well go mad and go to war just from madness alone.
GRUMBLE!
"Whoops... guess the hunger finally caught up to me." Mugeuk chuckled softly, buried in the two pairs of arms that had enclosed around him. Woojin and Muyang just couldn't hide the look of affection. How could they?
----
Dinner at the Heavenly Demon Pavilion was nice, disregarding the start where Mugeuk was filled in on the state he was in, the treatment and what happened to him- especially in the first 5 days of his delirium under the pain killers. Mugeuk felt content being surrounded by his father and brother who made sure he ate a lot, clearly walking on eggshells when it comes to his health. Making sure he doesn't overexert the still mending bones in his body, specifically his arms and legs, which is a also a big reason as to why his energy was still sealed.
"I will not release it." Geom Woojin asserted firmly after Geom Mugeuk had attempted to nag him about it again, even attempting, and failing, to gain his elder brother's assistance in changing their father's mind.
"You can't keep treating me like a baby. I'm mostly healed." Mugeuk responded firmly with a whine to his words, stuffing food in his mouth in annoyance as he stared into Woojin's own stubborn gaze.
"Mostly, not fully. After you heal, I will consider it." The father and son stared into each other's eyes, both full of stubbornness.
"Have you considered how vulnerable your son would be?" Mugeuk asked, but he already knew his father already thought of his safety.
"That's why you are not to be alone without me or your brother. At most Hwi can go with you alone." Geom Woojin stated with finality in his tone, going back to eating with a satisfaction.
"That's unreasonable. Plus, its not as if another like the Celestial Killer Star will appear in a week or a month from now." Mugeuk continued insisting, but from his father's expression he can tell there was no use.
"You never know what the heavens might do." Muyang deflected, clearly siding firmly with their father.
"You may be healed from what can be seen, but the damages that you're internal system went through is bound to have effects that can't be predicted."
"So I'm just going to be babied until father feels like I'm stable?" Mugeuk grumbled in dissatisfaction, and both his brother and father smirked victoriously.
"You're being dramatic." He continued complaining and eating in frustration. Geom Woojin knew that fact, but he couldn't help the worry he faced when he saw the pain his son was in and hearing those screams of agony.
He also couldn't stop thinking of those cryptic words Mugeuk had muttered deliriously under the affect of the pain killers. He had inquired about it with Sama Myeong, not adding that he heard about it from Mugeuk, but he was informed the Head Strategist knew nothing of it. The aforementioned man offered to look into it but the Heavenly Demon refused, settling for waiting for Mugeuk to wake up to ask.
"I will excuse myself for tonight. Please do call for me if I'm needed. Good night Father, Mugeuk." Geom Muyang got up, giving a slight bow of his head as he turned to leave, stealing a look of relieve at his younger brother who he's been worried for daily.
"Good night, Muyang."
"Good night, Hyung!"
After the the departure of the First Young Lord, Mugeuk and Woojin sat in silence for a while, sipping on tea since apparently Mugeuk was banned from alcohol too until further notice. He didn't say anything but he can tell that his father was contemplating something, studying Mugeuk.
"What is the Great Regression Technique?"
What?
Geom Mugeuk went stiff, his cup of tea pausing in mid air, inches from his lips, nearly slipping from his grasp. A shaky breath left him, his mind swarming with thoughts, but also thinking of nothing, especially not a response.
How does he know this?
He isn't supposed to. Only the blood of the Ghost clan's head know of this.
So how? What should I do?
No one should know of this. Seo Jin wouldn't speak of it either.
What the hell do I do?!
"The what now?" Geom Mugeuk looked up to meet his father's eyes, deciding on acting dumb, curious to see just how much his father knows. Unfortunately, his father didn't seem to believe his facade, seemingly knowing something that Mugeuk didn't.
"You heard me. You should know more then me, you told me about it." Geom Woojin spoke firmly, eyes locked on his son firmly, not allowing Mugeuk a second of mistake. If he wanted to lie, he couldn't hesitate.
The problem was, he already did, Mugeuk was speechless, a flicker of alarm and dread passing through his eyes. Geom Woojin noticed it and instantly was washed with worry. What was it about this technique that had his son like this? After the severity of the injuries Mugeuk went through, Woojin found himself always on guard with his son.
"Told you about it?" Mugeuk set down his cup so he doesn't drop it by accident, but his voice was trembling, so were his usually clear eyes that were nothing like that currently. He knew it was no use hiding from his father, he already let too much slip. Mugeuk followed his father's movements as the man stood up and made his way to his son, sitting beside him, for once letting the worry show on his face.
"Whilst under the affects of the pain killer. You said you worked hard for the materials, to come back and save Muyang and I, to kill the Celestial Killer Star. Explain." His father was authoritative, but not aggressive. He took Mugeuk's face in his hand, eyes full of worry at seeing the fearful look on his son's face. This wasn't a sight Woojin was used to, nor one he wanted to see, not again.
"You won't believe me.." Mugeuk muttered, for once since his regression looking down and not at his father. A sight that wasn't welcomed by Geom Woojin who stubbornly forced his son to face him. Look at him.
"You've done so many things that are unbelievable, I doubt this will be any different." Despite being inexperienced at it, Woojin tried his best to comfort his son, to assure him that as his father, he was willing to listen to any nonsense his son spouts. Regardless, Mugeuk was still hesitant, barely gathering courage to fully make eye contact with his father.
"Tell me Mugeuk. What is it that has been haunting you?"
That question is what made Mugeuk break. He had been bottling up everything from his past life, he never thought that such simple words can collapse the facade he's kept up in the nearly three years he's been regressed. Had he always wanted someone to ask him such a thing?
"Father... I.. I can't begin to describe it." He had only realised tears fell when he saw his own reflection in Woojin's surprised eyes. Mugeuk found himself clutching on to his father, for the first time intiating an embrace, hiding his teary face in Woojin's shoulder. He struggled to speak, but his father didn't push him, not denying the moment of relief that Woojin knew his son needed.
"Is it true? You regressed back in time?" Woojin spoke lightly, holding Mugeuk tightly, just like when the boy had woken up a few hours ago. The Cult Leader truly feared what reply he might hear from his youngest son, especially after hearing of his and Muyang's death.
Mugeuk silently nodded as he calmed down, but didn't move his head, keeping his grip on his father as if he was a small child. He felt a hand move from his back to stroke his long hair gently after it was untied.
"You said you saved me and Muyang this time, how did we die?" Woojin asked, coaxing the information out without pressuring his son heavily.
"Hwa Mugi... It was around 10 years from now that he appeared, unlike now which was much sooner." Woojin nodded in understanding, already having guessed Hwa Mugi's involvement. When the Celestial Killer Star appeared in the sky, he had then realised it was the person his son was wary of. It sort of explained it.
"Back then, he had gotten in without anyone noticing. He killed Hyung, who was your heir, not me. Then killed you, you were still at ten star mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art." Mugeuk took a sharp breath at the memory. Before he had gotten closer to the two, their death weren't that impactful, but it still hurt him regardless. But now with the bond Mugeuk built with Muyang and Woojin, thinking about it made his chest tighten.
"So realistically you took the position from your brother. Cheater, you had an advantage." One wouldn't expect his father to be so humorous currently, but it was all to sooth his hurt son. And he was victorious as Mugeuk let out a small giggle and in turn made Woojin smile in satisfaction.
"What of you? How did you survive?"
"He went after me too, nearly killed me... the last second... Lee Ahn jumped Infront of me with her Body Petrification technique and i was unconscious under her. Hwa Mugi was thankfully too prideful to check if i was still alive." Mugeuk explained grimly, jaw tight in grief and regret at the memory of Lee Ahn's sacrifice, clenching at his father's robes.
"Ah. That must be why you treasure her so much." Woojin nodded in understanding as he continued to hold his son and consoling him. His respect for the woman increasing even more.
"I wondered helplessly. Back then, I hated the Demon Supremes of then. I don't know why they didn't help. But Hwa Mugi moved at such an unparalleled speed with the help of the former Soul Stealing Demon Supreme, brainwashed by that flower lady who tried brainwashing the current Soul-Stealing Supreme." Mugeuk briefly explained how it all occurred, unsure how to express everything in a way it made sense. Simply recalling those events he had thought he let go, Mugeuk had let out an even more powerful stream of tears. A gentle hand reached down from his head and wiped his tears. Woojin made sure to comfort his son, to hold him closer then ever.
"Forty years.... that's how long it took me to gain the materials for the Great Regression Technique."
"Forty years? So you reached your seventies... Were you alone?" Woojin asked warily, troubled even. The small nod given by Mugeuk broke Woojin's heart. It dawned on him why his son made friends with anyone he could, why whenever he saw his boy's back he looked so lonely. Woojin has never noticed that his social, energetic son could've led such a lonely life.
"Seo Jin, the second captain of The Ghost Shadow Squad, had told me of the technique her brother has been developing. One by one i collected all the materials. Forty years to get them all. I nearly lost hope many times. But I kept going just for that one hope that seemed impossible." Mugeuk wasn't making any sound that hinted at his crying, but Woojin could slowly feel the damp spot on his shoulder, the tears soaked in by his robes. Woojin wished he could see his son's face but didn't force it, allowing the young man to keep his face buried in the crook of his father's neck.
"I did it though... I did it. I saved father. I saved Hyung. I saved Lee ahn. I saved all who needed to be saved." Mugeuk mumbled, slowly getting more drowsy, not bragging to his father, rather it was the Young Cult Leader comforting himself, putting the struggles of his past life down. Woojin was silent as he listened attentively, tightening his hold on Mugeuk till his son was snug, almost in his father's lap. Woojin couldn't help but grief the older days where he could hold his sons fondly. Where he wasn't concerned with showing affection that can be seen as favoritism to a successor candidate. When his work and duties didn't turn him to the impassive man he was today.
"Yes... You did it. You've worked hard.." Woojin whispered softly, his eyes full of anguish due to the young man's struggles. The struggles that not only he went through in his past life for seventy hellish years, but additionally to the struggles faced in this life, the burden he carried without telling anyone.
But now Mugeuk did tell someone, even though it was after all was done and dusted. But it still brought relief, his shoulders relaxed and the heaviness in his chest lightened. The Young Cult Leader has finally shared his most hidden secret, he rewarded himself by cuddling closer to his usually unaffectionate father. Woojin would've probably said a teasing comment but he didn't, he simply rearranged them two so his son was cradled in his lap and safe in his arms.
"Father... The reason I am so against the unification of Murim isn't predominately because of the deaths. That matters but it isn't all. I lived through it once. Hwa Mugi killed the heads of the Three Powers and their blood, forcing them to close their gates. The Murim was never unified, they were subdued, waiting for the reign of Hwa Mugi, the Twelve Kings and the Darkness Palace to end before returning to how it was. It was disorganised, revolution and betrayal simmering under the surface, waiting to take over after their death. The unification is merely temporary. That would apply to you as well." Mugeuk finally let the thoughts in his head out, although dozing off, he knew exactly what to tell his father. Afterall, he can't count the amount of times where he imagined telling Woojin everything. To explain the reason he was against the Heavenly Demon's dream of unification. These words had been rehearsed in his mind frequently, though he thought he'd never see the day where he'd have the chance to do it.
Woojin didn't retort, just simply staring down at his son, allowing this moment of vulnerability, combing the young man's hair with his fingers. The Cult Leader had already considered all those factors, and even Sama Myeong, the Head Strategist, had warned him of it. Woojin saw those as possibilities, chances that would happen and would be dealt with after his unification. He was satisfied with dealing with it when the time came. But seeing the anxiety that his son constantly felt, and he now knew why, it certainly made the man question his resolve.
The older man didn't reflect much, pushing aside his conflict when he realised his precious son had gone limp in his arms. He was embarrassed to admit that his heart spiked with panic, the memory of his son on the brink of death flashed in his mind. Though with a quick check of his son's pulse and internal state, Woojin quickly calmed.
Ever since that fateful day, the father was constantly on edge with his youngest son, at the same time his oldest as well, often demanding reports on Muyang's current whereabouts and activity during the time of Mugeuk's coma. He hadn't known a second of peace. Prior, when his sons went out on missions, he would feel worry and fright, but those were tightly compressed, until now.
The Cult Leader didn't move yet, settling on enjoying the warmth he felt from having his youngest sleep so soundly in his lap, almost like when Mugeuk was but a mere baby. Muyang's and Mugeuk's infancy were the only times he allowed himself to express his adoration for the two. Oh how he wished that wasn't the only time. As a bit of time passed, Woojin decided this was enough and stood up with his son still nestled in his arms, soundly asleep. Mugeuk's sealed energy is what allowed this vulnerability, allowing his mind and body to not be constantly on guard.
A brief thought of giving Mugeuk his own room temporarily now that the Young Cult Leader was awake was quickly ignored. Woojin needed to have his precious son close to settle that unease. Instead, he carried the young man back to the Cult Leader's room. As gently as possible, Woojin set down Mugeuk who was the epitome of peace when he was in his father's arm. Though when he was being set down, his lips frowned and his didn't let go of his father's robes no matter how much the older man tried to ease that grip. Woojin could've forced it off, however he didn't dare. Despite knowing otherwise, he couldn't help but treat the sleeping man like fragile glass.
Truth be told, the usually stoic man didn't want to let go either, and thanks to having changed into those ridiculous floral pajamas before dinner, he got into bed to continue cuddling his son. Woojin never knew he needed this, but he did now and he couldn't help but wish that Muyang was here too so he can hold both his sons. Ensure both their safety in his embrace. That however had to be saved for another time. For tonight he settled into bed and assured Mugeuk's comfort. Selfishly allowing himself to enjoy his son's warmth. Enjoy the serenity on the boy's face, the grip on his robes and most importantly the rise and fall of Mugeuk's chest as well as the beating of his son.
"Sleep well, Mugeuk."
Mugeuk was alive. He was well. And he was in Woojin's arms. This was all he could ever ask for.